           
                               Instructions for:

                b  a  s  i  c     4  0     t  h  i  e  v  e  s
                 1996-1998, John C. Emig, all rights reserved


                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

    TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................. 1

    INTRODUCTION ...................................................... 3

    HOW TO PLAY ....................................................... 4
        deck of 104 cards (2 decks combined)
        initial deal - deal pile
        object of the game - ordered area
        one card play
        free spaces (empty columns)
        stack play

    PROGRAM CONTROL ................................................... 6
        deal
        go back
        options menu
                helps toggle
                sound toggle
                colors menu
                new game
                exit menu
                return to game in progress

        color menu                
                card
                highlight
                text
                background
                return to options menu

        exit menu
                toggle instructions           
                save settings on exit         
                exit                          
                return to options menu

    TIPS .............................................................. 9
        mouse
        quick exit
        winnable game
        introduction and win exit

    INSTALLATION STUFF ............................................... 11
        unzipping and creating directory
        files and their purpose










                                 INTRODUCTION

    This  program  allows  the user to play the solitaire game  called 40 
    Thieves.    This  is a very difficult game to win and should  provide 
    many hours of diversion. 
    
    The program checks moves against game rules and gives messages when a 
    wrong move is attempted.   It allows the movement of a stack of cards 
    in  one move.   It also allows the user to retract a number of  moves 
    and automatically determines when a win has occurred and will play it 
    out.  
                                                                             
    Color changes for cards, background or prompt are available and mouse 
    sensitivity can be adjusted during play. 
                                       
                                     
                                  HOW TO PLAY 
    
    deck of 104 cards (2 decks combined)             
        A deck of 104 cards (2 decks combined) is used to try to create 8 
        ordered piles by suit.  
    
    initial deal - deal pile                         
        The  cards are initially dealt into 10  columns of 4 cards.   The 
        rest  go in the deal pile.   The number of cards remaining in the 
        deal  pile  is displayed at the bottom of the screen.   Only  one 
        pass through the deal pile is allowed. 

    object of the game - ordered area    
        The  object is to move all the cards into the ordered area.    An 
        ordered pile starts with an ace and then builds up numerically in 
        the same suit.  There are 8 ordered piles - one for each of the 8 
        suits represented in 2 decks of cards.  

        The  ordered  area is to the right of the playing area above  the 
        deal pile. 

        Cards can be moved one at a time from either the playing area  or 
        the deal pile to an ordered pile. 

        Once a card is in the ordered area, it can not be removed.

    one card play                                    
        Basic play consists of moving a card either from the deal pile or 
        from somewhere in the playing area to a position on top of a card 
        of  the  SAME suit and one larger in denomination in the  playing 
        area.   Left click on the card to select it then left click where 
        you want it to go.   Click again on the same card to deselect  it 
        in order to make a different choice. 
        
    free spaces (empty column)                        
        Once  an empty column is created,  a  card from the deal pile  or 
        from one of the other columns can be placed there.   It is a good 
        idea strategically to use the empty columns for moving stacks for 
        as long as possible. 

    stack play                                       
        A  stack  of cards may be moved within the playing area if  there 
        are enough empty columns available.  For example, if there is a 2 
        of clubs on a 3 of clubs and a 4 of clubs showing elsewhere,  the 
        stack may be moved onto the 4 as long as there is an empty column 
        to  temporarily put the 2 of clubs while you move the 3 of clubs.  
        If you wanted to move a stack of 3 cards,  2  empty columns would 
        be  required.   For a 4 card stack,  you would still only need  2 
        empty  columns since you can temporarily make a 2 card  stack  in 
        one  of  the empty columns.   This is similar to Freecell.    The 
        program allows for direct stack movement by selecting on the  top 
        card  of the stack you want to move.  Stacks can be moved to  the 
        ordered area as well as long as they are in order and the  bottom 
        card of the stack is the right denomination. 


                                PROGRAM CONTROL

    deal                                      
        Deals  a new card from the deal pile.   Unplayed deal  cards  are 
        available for use as those above them are played. 

    go back                                    
        Three play withdrawals are allowed.   These include deals, single 
        and stack card plays. 

    options menu                                  
         helps toggle                      
                From the options menu:  toggles notification of  possible 
                plays. 

         sound toggle                      
                From the options menu:  toggles warning beeps and shuffle 
                noise. 

         color menu                    
                From the options menu:  goes to color menu. 
         
         new game
                From the options menu:  goes to new game menu. 

         exit menu
                From the options menu:  goes to exit menu. 

         return to game in progress        
                From the options menu:  returns to the current game. 


    new game menu
         restart current game
                From the new game menu:  restarts  current game from  the 
                beginning. 

         continue current game
                From the new game menu:  continues current game from last 
                move made. 

         new game
                From the new game menu:  starts  a new game.   If ESC  is 
                hit just after selecting this option, a very easy game is 
                dealt. 


    color menu            
         card                          
                From  the  color  menu:  changes  the color of the normal 
                card border. 

         highlight                     
                From  the  color  menu:  changes   the   color   of   the 
                highlighted card border. 

         background                    
                From  the  color  menu:  changes   the   color   of   the 
                background. 

         prompt                        
                From  the  color  menu:  changes the color of the  button 
                prompt text. 

        return to options menu                                                
                From  the  color  menu:  returns to the options menu.     
                                                                              
    exit menu                                     
        toggle instructions                                                
                From  the exit menu:  toggles   whether   or   not  these  
                instructions  will  be  displayed  at  start  up.    Also   
                controls  when the processor speed is calculated.    This     
                must be toggled ON the very first time the game is played  
                on a new computer.  See below.                             
                                                                           
        save settings on exit                                              
                From  the exit menu:  exits game  saving  current colors, 
                helps toggle, sound toggle and mouse sensitivity.     
                                                                           
        exit                                                               
                From  the exit menu:  exits  game without saving  current 
                colors, sound toggle and mouse sensitivity.            
                                                                              
        return to options menu                                                
                From  the exit menu:  returns to the options menu.             
                                                                              

                                     TIPS

    mouse
         Clicking the  right mouse button at any time adjusts  the  mouse 
         sensitivity according to which portion of the screen you are on. 
         The top half increases sensitivity and the bottom half decreases
         sensitivity. 

         The  current mouse sensitivity will be temporarily displayed  at 
         the bottom of the screen. 

    quick exit
         Clicking the  middle button on a 3 button mouse exits  the  game
         immediately.   The  game can be resumed by  selecting  "continue 
         current  game" from the new game menu the next time the game  is 
         started.

   winnable game
         Hitting  escape immediately after "start new game"  option  will 
         deal a VERY winnable game. 

    introduction and win exit
         Clicking any key or mouse button from the introduction  and  the
         win  celebration  stops  it and brings up the appropriate  menu.
         The  celebration  is programmed to last a few moments no  matter
         what. 


                              INSTALLATION STUFF

    unzipping and creating directory
        Merely  create a directory of your choice and unzip  40THFREE.ZIP 
        into it.  You can make a directory with the MD DOS command. 

    files and their purpose
        40THIEVE.EXE    - main program
                                                                             
        README.TXT      - simple text file              
        README.CNV      - converted text file for use in program
                                                                             
        INSTR.DAT       - contains   configuration   data  for   startup 
                          instructions 
        SAVEGAME.DAT    - contains data for continuing current game
        STRTGAME.DAT    - contains data for restarting current game        
        40TH.DAT        - contains  configuration data for colors,  helps 
                          toggle, sound toggle and mouse sensitivity 
                                                                             
        The  rest of these are files containing the graphical  components 
        used to build pictures of the cards.                                                                                                       
          DEALTEXT.S16        REDT.S16        BLKT.S16       CLQN.S16       
          DEALTXHI.S16        REDQ.S16        BLKQ.S16       CLJACK.S16     
          CARD.S16            REDK.S16        BLKK.S16       SPKING.S16    
          CARDHI.S16          REDJ.S16        BLKJ.S16       SPQN.S16      
          HALFCARD.S16        REDA.S16        BLKA.S16       SPJACK.S16
          HALFCDHI.S16        RED9.S16        BLK9.S16       CLUB.S16      
          HRTKING.S16         RED8.S16        BLK8.S16       CLUBU.S16     
          HRTQN.S16           RED7.S16        BLK7.S16       DIAMOND.S16   
          HRTJACK.S16         RED6.S16        BLK6.S16       DIAMONDU.S16      
          DIKING.S16          RED5.S16        BLK5.S16       HEART.S16        
          DIQN.S16            RED4.S16        BLK4.S16       HEARTU.S16       
          DIJACK.S16          RED3.S16        BLK3.S16       SPADE.S16  
          CLKING.S16          RED2.S16        BLK2.S16       SPADEU.S16 
                                     CONGRTS.S16

                                                                         
                                     END OF TEXT                            
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         

